Yeager, Fedzen to represent Thiel at PAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Banquet

GREENVILLE, Pa.—The Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) recently unveiled plans for its first-ever Scholar-Athlete of the Year Banquet, which will be held Monday, May 19, at the Cranberry Room of the Four Points by Sheraton in Cranberry Township, Pa.

The banquet will begin with a reception for all attendees at 6 p.m., and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. Vice President of NCAA Division III Dan Dutcher is scheduled to serve as keynote speaker for the first annual event.

One graduating male and one graduating female student-athlete will represent each of the PAC’s 10 member institutions at the banquet. Leanna Yeager and Matt Fedzen were selected to represent Thiel.

Yeager was named to the PAC Academic Honor Roll five times and was named to the Dean’s List every semester. She is a member of Alpha Chi, the highest academic honor bestowed on students at Thiel, as well as Kappa Delta Pi and Sigma Tau Delta, education and English honor societies, respectively. Yeager is also a member of Chi Alpha Sigma, the national college athlete honor society, as well as Lambda Sigma, the sophomore service honorary and Les Laurier, the senior service honorary.

A secondary education/English literature major, Yeager was named one of Thiel’s student’s of the month in February. She was a member of her senior class gift committee and recently had a paper accepted at the Susquehanna University Undergraduate Conference for English and Creative Writing.

A two-sport athlete, Yeager earned four letters in volleyball and two letters in basketball. Yeager was twice a part of Thiel volleyball teams that played in the PAC Championship match (2010, 2012). During her senior volleyball season, Yeager ranked 36th in NCAA Division III in blocks per set average (1.04). She was also a senior leader in volleyball and a co-captain in basketball during her senior season.

Yeager was the co-editor of The Phoenix, Thiel’s literary journal. She was involved in book drives for the Literacy Council for Sigma Tau Delta. She served as the Community Service Chair for Lambda Sigma and the Vice President and Student Government Association representative for Sigma Tau Delta. She also organized road cleanups for Lambda Sigma.

A business administration major, Fedzen made the Dean’s List all eight semesters, earning the Dean’s Key. A three-time PAC Academic Honor Roll honoree, he is a member of Chi Eta Sigma, the business administration and accounting honorary, as well as Chi Alpha Sigma, the national college athlete honor society.

A four-year member of the football team, Fedzen also played baseball his senior year. He earned two letters in football and was named to the All-PAC Honorable Mention team following his senior season, in which he served as a team captain and led the Tomcats in receptions (29), receiving yards (531) and touchdown catches (5).

Fedzen served Thiel as a Spanish tutor. He volunteered at the Good Shepherd Center, Inc., in Greenville and was a Spring Into Action Day volunteer. He also served as a marketing team leader for Sans Moco, an art studio start up business in Greenville.

The Scholar-Athlete of the Year Banquet is another way to recognize the conference’s best and brightest senior student-athletes for their athletic achievements, excellence in the classroom and outstanding community service efforts.